Residential Mobility in the Late Prehistoric Southwest

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Dr. Douglas Price and his colleagues will analyze strontium isotope ratios from the teeth and bones of prehistoric inhabitants of the Grasshopper. Point of Pines, Turkey Creek and Kinishba archaeological sites, all located in the Mogollon rim region of Arizona. All date to ca. 14th century AD and mark a highpoint in the development of Southwestern Aboriginal American culture. The goal of the research is to determine the individual migration patterns of residents over their lifetime. The strontium isotope technique takes advantage of the fact that permanent dentition is formed early in life. The strontium incorporated into the tooth enamel is not replaced over time. Bone strontium, however, is constantly replaced over the lifetime of an individual. Because the strontium taken into the human body is derived, via plants, animals and water, from the local soil, comparison between tooth and bone enamel from the same person can provide evidence on lifetime movement. Luckily, in the Southwestern U.S., different geographical regions have distinct strontium isotopic signatures. The 14th century AD marks a high point in cultural development in the Southwest. Large ceremonial centers were constructed and extensive trade networks existed to minimize short-term geographical differences in production. This implies the development of complex forms of social control and interaction. Anthropologists want to know how large sites such as Grasshopper developed and were maintained and several theories have been proposed. One places a major emphasis on migration and the consolidation of groups from different regions while others focus on in situ processes. The work undertaken by Dr. Price will provide direct evidence against which to evaluate these theories. This research is important for several reasons. It will increase our understanding of how complex societies develop and are maintained. It will shed new light on the prehistory of the U.S. Southwest and finally it will assist in the development of an extremely promising analytic technique. It is the first instance in which strontium isotope analysis is applied to an anthropological question.